pages

Monday, 24 February 2014

It has been a while since I last released some pattern packs but I have decided that the time is ripe! The first of the patterns is a little felt penny mat called Spring Fling! and it is a really nice beginners make for Easter coming up! (sorry but the year is scooting by!).

Anyway, let's not worry about the calendar, have a look at the pattern pack.....

This one is now live and it features step-by-step instructions with photos and everything that you need to get started.

And there are more to come! Look out in the next days for the rest of the planned packs - something for everyone...
For the sewists, a cushion...

The quilters, a nice lap quilt....

Not to forget the decorative painters among us.... ducklings for Easter....

And the first of the prim painting patterns, a nice wall clock. Sort of prim but could fit into the shabby chic home too.

You can find all of these patterns for sale at my Etsy shop - the folk art factory and they are available for instant download. If you have any issues at all, please contact me at thefolkartfactory@hotmail.co.uk and I will help you if I possibly can.

Thanks so much for dropping by and happy crafting!
Love and hugs
Debs
xxx

Sunday, 16 February 2014

I have something for the sewists today - and especially those with a dog. I have been thinking for some time about making Sally a bathrobe and today I actually got my act together and I have made it. Looks good too although madam doesn't agree. Could mean a bath......

Have a look and see and then I will tell you how I got to this point!

Not a terribly flattering photo of the dog but let's concentrate on the bathrobe and I will point out its features.
It is made from a bath towel so it is cheap and very thirsty on a wet dog. it has a 'snood' (the hood bit) which is superb for drying ears. It has a wide belt with hook and loop tape to fasten and that means it stays put but there are no fiddly closures. It is washable and a lot more robust than it looks. But choose the towel carefully. I am disappointed with my choice which is zippering already. Some of the velour type towels are better I think.

So what will you need? Firstly, a bath towel in the colour of your choice and big enough to fit your dog. You will also need some printed cotton fabric for the trims, some hook and loop tape, wide elastic, brown paper and a pencil and your usual hand and machine sewing needs.

There is no actual pattern for this, I will show you how to make your own. take a tape measure and measure along your dog's back from neck to tail. Now measure the length to the dog's knees. Finally, measure the length from the middle of the chest to the tail. Transfer these measurements to a piece of brown paper. Mark a curve for the neck and you should have a pattern which looks something like this....

I have rounded the back section off too but this is only a design feature and serves no practical function.

Cut out the coat, placing the top of the pattern (the neck to tail measurement) on the fold of the fabric.

Sew the front (chest) seam down and try it on the dog.

I have put some darts at the neck for shape too. Sew these as well.

Not a happy camper! But very patient all the same. She shall have salmon........
The snood is made from a tube which extends about half way up the dog's face.

Use the patterned fabric to make a casing for the elastic. The width will depend on the width of the elastic and the wider, the more comfortable it is.

Machine sew this and then add the elastic and slip stitch closed.

Next, make the belt. I cut a piece of cotton fabric about 15 cm wide and as round as the dog plus another half.

Fit it on the dog to find a good and comfortable place for it to sit and pin it carefully in place. position the hook and loop tape too.

Sew that all on and then make some bias binding from the cotton fabric to bind the edge.

Neaten off any stray threads and consider stabilizing the inner raw edges too, depending on which sort of towel you have chosen.

Now we are back to the first photo again - a disgruntled dog in a bath robe! Trust me, these robes are worth their weight in gold! The dog can shake all she likes and the furniture will not get wet and the dog doesn't get cold. She will dry in half the time!

Thank you so much Makelight!

About Me

I have been involved in writing and the craft world pretty much all of my life but in 1997 I made it into a profession, qualifying formally in Journalism and writing patterns and a couple of columns for magazines and newspapers across four continents. I love my job! I can be creative and I have the whole world to be creative in!

I am inspired by nature, travel and history - ancient worlds, steampunk or just a walk in the woods. You name it.

But I write about so much more than craft! I love travel writing, photography and just simply commenting about some of the ridiculous things that happen in our lives. I have (fairly) recently moved to the UK from Australia and I love it here in Norfolk so I write about that too!

Writing has led me through the world of teaching, I have written six books and more craft pattern packets than I care to mention!

I design patterns for quilts, sewing, paper crafts, scrapbooking, cards, bead work, jewellery, mixed media, tole painting and anything else apart from knitting and crochet - I have never had the patience to master those! Although I must say that is changing - I have recently succumbed to the crochet bug and I am now knee deep in wool and ideas.

Take a look at my magazine list to see where you can find my published work and I will tell you more about my two new UK columns when they are ready for release. Happy crafting!

Learn to Sew!

My new book - a sewing course in book form!

Buy My New Book

Cannot sew but would love to learn? No-one to teach you? My new eBook (hot off the presses) is here to help! Scrappy Patch Mats is actually a sewing course and it gently leads you through the maze of things that you need to know with videos and lots of pictures to help you on your way.

And what do mats have to do with it? I have used quick and simple projects to illustrate each new thing that you learn on your journey. Learn to sew in the comfort of your own home and without spending a fortune. Click on the link below to order and you have the choice of instant download or a CD version.

More information in the 'My Books' page under the main title including the contents page and a taster.